May 05, 2010

Youth upset by jail term for two Masterton burglaries

A 20-year-old was in tears as he was jailed for a year for the burglary of two Masterton properties, at a sentencing in the Christchurch District Court.

It was the first prison term for Jason Beazley-Taylor who had admitted the two break-ins, as well as two thefts.

Judge Stephen Erber noted that some of the offending had taken place while Beazley-Taylor was released on bail.

The first burglary was at a house in Lansdowne Crescent, in June and that was follosed by another Masterton property later the same month.

He was released on bail but stole $93.50 from a bus in October. After his arrest on that charge he was again released on bail but stole a woman?s MP3 player.

Judge Erber said a large amount of property had been taken in the first house burglary and none of it had been found.

Beazley-Taylor was with two associates and his share of the reparation ? which he was ordered to pay ? was $2117.

At the second property in a rural area, the group tried to get into a shed but the window was protected by an aluminium mesh and they were not able to gain entry.

The man who owned the first house had been badly affected, said the judge. ?He felt his house had been violated, and his home does not seem like home to him any longer. Unfortunately, these are feelings that people who suffer home burglaries very frequently share.?

The pre-sentence report spoke of Beazley-Taylor?s unsettled early life and serious problems.

He had an injured knee and had been unemployed for more than a year.

He had not expressed remorse or any insight into the offending.

?Your problems are bad company, getting drunk, and a disinclination to undertake any amendment of your behaviour,? the judge told him, imposing the one-year jail term.